Comparative study between natural and artificial weathering of acrylic‐coated steel, aluminum, and galvanized steel

Since testing organic coatings under natural conditions is a time‐consuming process, accelerated methods are needed to produce results in less time. A simulated environment cannot fully reproduce actual operating conditions, so it is important to investigate the correlation between accelerated and natural aging test results. In this article, the natural aging of painted steel, aluminum, and hot‐dip galvanized steel is studied for 1 year under continental climate conditions. The environmental parameters responsible for the change of the protective system in a continental urban environment were monitored: time of wetness, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature. The extent of deterioration is compared with similar samples weathered by accelerated testing using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and gloss measurements. Neutral salt spray chamber, prohesion test, immersion in a quiescent salt solution, and ultraviolet B‐rays (UVB) exposure test are considered. The results of the accelerated cabinet tests are discussed, and the effect is evaluated for the various coated metals. This study highlights the major problems encountered in building a model to predict durability in such a critical area as the durability of organic coatings for metal structures.